The Move Alliance said it's the first of its kind in the city, and that it could affect you

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A new alliance wants to push the city's Planning Commission to give a green light to projects that are close to public transportation.

The Move Alliance said getting its seal of approval will endorse commercial and residential projects, that are transportation friendly, while they're in the works, well before they're complete.

Move San Diego "Seal of Approval"

A new alliance wants to push the city's Planning Commission to give a green light to projects that are close to public transportation. Brandi Powell reports. (Published Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011)

It said that will make a big difference for not just developers, but for people who will live in those areas.

Smart Growth is a one-of-a-kind seal of approval for building projects, according to The Move Alliance. In order to get the seal approval, it said the projects must mesh with public transportation, and walking and biking trails.

"Our awards are different because they happen while the project is getting its entitlements," said Elyse Lowe of Move San Diego. "This means while it's going through the public process, and this is where the projects really need our help, they need people to say, hey, this is good."

Move San Diego is heading up the alliance. Together, experts in land use, transportation and design, say they'll offer public testimony at Planning Commission hearings. Their plan is to give the Commission a leg-up in its decision-making process, by offering it an endorsement from an independent body of experts.

"This is an opportunity to really help create these walkable and viable communities, and by helping developers focus in on what the really important qualities are," said Leah Ostenberg Stender of Walk San Diego.

This would include giving the public more access to things such as connections to major transit stops.

"I think that we have designed over many, many decades for the car, and so this is really an opportunity to support projects and development that is actually incorporating design elements good for transit, walking and biking," said Diego Velasco of MW Steele Group.

It's announcing its first project to receive an endorsement, in early January.

It costs $2500 for The Move Alliance to assess each project, whether or not they give it the Smart Growth seal of approval.